Review of Beginners

I went into this movie with no expectations and was completely blown away by its honesty and genuine goodwill. Oliver (MacGregor) has just lost his mother, and now, after decades of guilt and repression, his father Hal (Plummer) has come out of the closet. At over 70 years old, he yearns for the opportunity to explore and experiment, and his joy is infectious as he learns to love again. This isn’t to say he didn’t love his wife—their story is one of dedication, risk-taking, and true yearning for perfection. Still, it is a lot for Oliver to handle, and things only get harder for him and his own love life as Hal is diagnosed with terminal cancer. This is truly a gem, revealing much about modern families and love; how sure you are one second that this person is your perfect match only to wonder where that solid feeling went. Director Mike Mills shows that although others may seem to be going through much different struggles, you can still find inspiration and learn from them—there isn’t much that separates us, at all.